Justin Finch-Fletchley

Ron,

Has your brother come home yet? Is he all right? It sounds as if he at least escaped unscathed this time, what? Of course I'm sure he's well shaken, given that they could have taken him to MLE for questioning.

Imagine, if he'd still been back in Communications, they would have done. I say, jolly lucky for him!

Harry, I was thinking perhaps instead of Tea Appreciation tomorrow, we might fly toward the farm where Sirius's friend lives. Mrs Longbottom said she wanted to mobilise to take it. Even if the Order decide not to try now, if things at the Ministry seem to have calmed down, we ought to go for reconnaissance, what?

There's something else, though: Remember the parcels Maggie's been receiving? Hydra talked to Ms Tonks about them and the last time we were at Doughty Conduit, what, she said that no one at Laszlo's has been sending them (as far as she knows). But she did tell me that Mr Macnair, the one who used to be Creatures professor and is now somewhat allied to the Order, believes that Maggie is his sister.

I say, I've been trying to talk to her alone since Ms Tonks told me that. But she's been bally well impossible to catch by herself. It's almost as if after that incident with the Jugsons, she's extra-careful not to be alone with me.

I say, you don't think she still thinks I've got a crush, what? That would be well ridiculous.

How was everyone else's weekend?

-Justin

Hullo, everyone!

I say, I suppose I ought to bring this to the Order but it still feels...odd, what, to ask for their help directly.

There was a spot of bother at the Jugsons' at brunch this morning.

It seems all year long, their servant Maggie has been receiving little care parcels, mostly of food and clothes, nothing all too extravagant. But this morning Mrs Jugson commented that Maggie's put on almost a stone, from the look of her, and accused her to pinching extra portions from the larder.

They insisted on inspecting her room and saw the extra clothes and her cupboard of food. Mr Jugson demanded to know where she'd got them. She said someone was sending them and she didn't know who.

It was clear they were about to do something rash, what, so I spoke up and said that I'd sent the parcels, just as remembrances.

No one was too pleased with that, of course, but what else could one do? Mrs Jugson was bally well upset. 'Don't you think we feed or clothe our own mudblood well enough?' she said. I said no, of course, Maggie has all she needs but that one wishes from time to time to bestow largesse on one's inferiors, what.

At that, Mrs Jugson decided I must be sweet on Maggie--I say, I'm not sure which assumption was more repugnant to her (though if truth be told, they could provide better for her so in a way it was better to let her think I admire Maggie). But they let it go, at least, provided I stopped immediately. I promised I should never do it again and they left.

But then Maggie--well, she must not have known, in truth, because she believed Mrs Jugson's conclusion. She looked at me rather piteously, what, and tried to tell me that she felt no attraction. I corrected her as gently as I could and explained that I've had nothing whatever to do with her parcels and haven't the slightest idea who might be sending them.

The interesting thing was that she wondered if her benefactor could be sending her these gifts as an elabourate trap, what? And she allowed that it would be good to know who's behind it and why. 'So that I'll know whether to thank the person or send the things back,' she said.

I can't imagine that someone's entrapping her, what, but it does occur to me that someone in the Order might be sending her things, because they feel sorry for her, what? Only, it's a rather delicate question to ask and I shouldn't like to offend anyone by asking. My guess is that it's either Mr Lupin, sending her things from Laszlo's stock, or it's Mrs Weasley.

What do you think we ought to do? Ron, Hermione? Might we ask privately when we visit next (and does anyone know when that might be)?

-Justin